Stories of
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June 28, 1787
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Wisdom of

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Sage of the Constitutional
Convention

It had been a long,
hot summer in Philadelphia and it promised to get even hotter. Delegates from 12 of
the original 13 colonies had gathered at Independence Hall to ponder the failures of their
new Country. The ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION that had been drafted during the American
Revolution were grossly inadequate and the lingering reminders of SHAYS' REBELLION nurtured
fears of growing anarchy in the new United States of America. The threats of anarchy
without were nothing compared to the anarchy that seemed to reign within the halls of
government. More than 50 powerful men, each with individual agendas (and egos)
struggled to find a system of government for their new nation. The near record heat
and humidity, combined with these human factors, caused the "Constitutional
Convention" to become a verbal brawl with little hope of compromise or progress.
Several National leaders such as Patrick Henry had refused to participate.
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were serving abroad. Some delegates had left the
convention in disgust to return home. George Washington, who had held together a
rag-tag Army of the Potomac against incredible odds and freezing winters during the
Revolutionary War, seemed powerless as President of the convention to hold together the
four dozen men who verbally bashed each other daily. If the Articles of
Confederation were dismal failures, the effort to replace them with a better form of
government seemed even worse.

At the age of 81 Dr. Benjamin
Franklin of Pennsylvania was the oldest member in the hall. Frail and not in the
best of health, he had watched for weeks as his fellow delegates wasted their time with
endless and meaningless debate. Like those who had gone home in disgust, he had had
his "fill" of the sorry proceeding. As the close of business approached on
June 28th he could hold his peace and ignore the problem no longer. "Sage"
of the convention, the wise old man caught the attention of George Washington and asked to
be heard.

"Mr. President," Dr. Franklin began.

"The small progress we have made after four or five weeks' close attendance and
continual reasonings with each other--our different sentiments on almost every question,
several of the last producing as many noes as ayes--is, methinks, a melancholy proof of
the imperfection of the human understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of
political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone
back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of
those republics which, having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution, now no
longer exist. And we have viewed modern states all round Europe, but find none of
their constitutions suitable to our circumstances.

"In this situation of this assembly, groping, as it were, in the dark, to find
political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it
happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of
lights to illuminate our understandings. In the beginning of the contest with Great
Britain, when we were sensible of dangers, we had daily prayer in this room for the divine
protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered.
All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a
superintending Providence in our favor. To that kind Providence we owe this happy
opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national
felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine
that we no longer need his assistance?

"I have lived, sir, a long time, and, the longer I live, the more convincing
proofs I see of this truth--that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow
cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise
without his aid? We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings, that 'Except
the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.'

"I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we
shall succeed, in this political building, no better than the builders of Babel. We
shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded;
and we ourselves shall become a reproach and by-word down to future ages. And, what
is worse, mankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing
governments by human wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.

"I therefore beg leave to move that, henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance
of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this assembly every morning
before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be
requested to officiate in that service."

(Actual Text of Benjamin Franklin's
Speech)

"Mr. President, I second the motion," said Roger Sherman of
Connecticut.

Alexander Hamilton then noted that perhaps such a
resolution might have been more appropriate when the delegation had first convened the
previous May, but indicated that the public might now perceive "the embarrassments
and dissensions with in the Convention" had lead to the measure. When in fact,
this was perhaps the very thought that had prompted Franklin's speech, the delegates
hesitated to publicly admit their need for God's help.

Edmund Randolph suggested that a sermon be
presented on the Fourth of July, just six days hence, and that from that day forward
prayers be read in the Convention every morning. Benjamin Franklin seconded the
motion which was accepted without a vote.

Two and a half months later the
Constitutional Convention adjourned having successfully drafted a document for a form of
government unlike anything in human history, the United States Constitution.
Alexander Hamilton pointed out that the final product was the work of many men and that no
single delegate's ideas were "more remote" from the final document than his
own. How could such teamwork have emerged from such a diverse group of egos and
private agendas? Hamilton pointed out that the participants had "taken
appropriate steps to avoid anarchy and convulsion."